Woman faked her own kidnapping, police say

Dawn Atwood charged with creating false public alarm

Dawn Atwood, 27, of Williston, is charged with creating a false public alarm after St. Albans Police say she faked her own kidnapping on Monday, Jan. 13, 2014.

SOURCE: Courtesy St. Albans Police

Woman faked her own kidnapping, police say

Dawn Atwood charged with creating false public alarm

Updated: 2:50 PM EST Jan 14, 2014

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ST. ALBANS, Vt. —

A 27-year-old woman is accused of faking her own kidnapping.

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St. Albans Police Chief Gary Taylor said the department received information on Monday that Dawn Atwood of Williston was possibly being held against her will by an ex-boyfriend and that they could be in the St. Albans area.

According to Taylor, police used Atwood’s cellphone to track her location and then conducted a search within a four mile radius of her location.

At 2:45 p.m. the department learned Atwood was hiding in a Walmart bathroom after escaping while stopped at a nearby gas station.

Officers were able to make contact with Atwood, who was emotional and did not want assistance, said Taylor, noting that the ex-boyfriend was on scene and cooperative with police.

Further investigation revealed Atwood fabricated the story. She was subsequently charged with creating a false public alarm.

Atwood was released on citation and scheduled to appear in Franklin District Court in February.